Hot Topics:

Weekly calendar of arts and community events in the Berkshires and the Shires of Vermont

Berkshires Week & Shires of Vermont

Posted:
01/22/2014 06:25:09 PM EST

Updated:
01/28/2014 10:13:01 AM EST

Thursday, Jan. 23

COMMUNITY

EPOCH

Author Kathleen Cleary to discuss non-willed items. Cleary, who specializes in coaching adult children to support aging parents, will lead a question and answer after a presentation on the transfer of non-titled property. Free and open to the public. Wine and cheese will be offered to guests. RSVP: (413) 499-1992. 4:30 p.m. 140 Melbourne Road, Pittsfield.

The Mount

"Society, Scandal, and Double Standards: A Reading and Discussion of New Year's Day" with Francesca Segal in the Drawing Room on the eve of Wharton's 152nd birthday. 6 p.m., Lenox. EdithWharton.org or (413) 551-5100.

Norman Rockwell Museum

"A Nation Divided: Getting Past the Impasse," the latest in the Four Freedoms Forum, which examines the idea of finding common ground in today's political climate. Program for adults. 2:30 p.m., Stockbridge.

Berkshire Songwriters in the Round concert series: Justin Hillman, Ryan Foss, John Clarke from Bell Engine, and host Todd Mack. Tickets available at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m. Sheffield.

Tom Tyning to present "Snakes: Biology, Conservation and Stories." An afternoon of free, family entertainment sponsored by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum. 2 p.m., Pittsfield.

Berkshire Museum

Opening of the new exhibition, "Berkshire Collects," showcasing Berkshire County residents' passionate pursuit of every imaginable kind of object from rare motorcycles to wind-up toys, exotic insects, vintage guitars, and more. With more than 40 collectors sharing their treasures, the exhibit is a salute to the long and diverse tradition of collecting that built the Berkshire Museum 110 years ago. 39 South St., Pittsfield. (413) 443-7171, www.berkshiremuseum.org

Educators Symposium: "True Stories: Non-Fiction Children's Books in the Classroom." Explore the world of non-fiction picture books and the Common Core-ready resources available to help educators. Illustrators Wendell Minor and David Macaulay, author Florence Minor, and other specialists in the field, will offer curriculum connections to non-fiction children's literature. Tours of "Wendell Minor's America" and a book signing are included. Lunch and snacks provided. Registration: (413) 931-2252. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Stockbridge.

TEDx Talks

Williams College will host TEDx WilliamsCollege, faculty and student talks and films, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. CenterStage of the ‘62 Center for Theatre and Dance. A reception will follow in the CenterStage lobby. Free. Tickets required; space is limited. tedx.williams.edu/ticket-info. Williams will broadcast the talks online after the conference, tedx.williams.edu.

Ventfort Hall

Tea and Talk: "Living the Fast Life and the English Country House," a visual presentation given by architechtual historian Curt DuCamillo. 3:30 p.m., Lenox.

Montessori School of the Berkshires open house with scavenger hunt, refreshments, 9 a.m. to noon. 21 Patterson Road, Lenox Dale. BerkshireMontessori.org.

Northshire Bookstore

Steve Sheinkin, "The Port Chicgo 50: Disaster, Mutiny and the Fight for Civil Rights," 3 p.m. Story of African-American teenagers assigned to load ammunition at a segregated military base in World War II. 424 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (518) 682-4200.

Field Farm, Williamstown. Hike or snowshoe through this Trustees of Reservations property, Sloane Road (at the Five Corners). Carl Filios, (413) 442-8984. Williamstown.

Taconic Hiking Club

The 29th Annual Winter Festival at Grafton Lakes State Park. Full day of outdoor winter activities including a X-C skiing trek or snowshoe hike sponsored by the Taconic Hiking Club. Volunteers needed for the THC information booth at the main building. (413) 279-1155. Grafton, N.Y.

The first installment of The Very Interesting Lecture Series: Parallel Universes. Presented by Florian Ptak, current theories of the cosmos, 7 p.m. 1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. (413) 499-9480.

Intellectual Property

Patricia Nelson will give a seminar on the subject of copyright law in the digital age on GNAT-TV, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Studio of the public access station, Sunderland, Vt., five miles south of Manchester on Route 7A. (802) 362-7070.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Click the login link below to sign in with or to set up a Disqus account or to access your social networking account. When you do, your comment should be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (What are the guidelines?.) Report abuse by flagging a comment (mouse over the comment). Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Berkshire Eagle. So keep it civil.